Your cat’s litter box is a must, but let’s be honest nobody likes to see or worse, smell it! Check out these smart ideas for hiding your cat’s litter box to keep your home looking fresh and neat!
Cats may be cleaner than other pets, yet their bathroom habits aren’t exactly fun to see, especially if the litter box isn’t covered no matter the clumping. It still smells. Few people have space for a litter box in the bathroom, so it usually goes in the living room. And what can you do in this case? Follow me through the entire article so I can share with you tips from my own experience.
To maintain a clean and pleasant environment, consider constructing a litter box enclosure. This will also give your cats a private place to go to the “toilet.”
Before you move, change, or redesign the litter box area, there are a few things you should think about. First of all, make sure your cat likes covered litter boxes. Otherwise, you might be in trouble, and your cat will poop right in the middle of your rug.
Secondly, consider how many cats you have. I have one now, but back in the day, I used to have three, each one with its box. They must have their privacy. Thirdly, how old or young is your cat? Does it have any health issues that stop them from jumping or climbing? Then you’ll have to settle for a simple way to hide your cat’s litter box.
Ok, now that we settled these details let’s get to work! These are the smartest ways to hide your cat’s litter box in ways both you and your feline be happy.
Use a Byholma chest from Ikea
You’re not so good at DIY, and you want something that’s both good-looking and intuitive enough for your cat to go in? I got you! If you happen to have a Byholma chest from IKEA or any other wicker basket with a lid, you can easily transform it into a hideout for your cat’s litter box.
Make sure the chest can comfortably hold your cat’s litter box and still have some extra space for ventilation. Choose where your cat will enter. A shorter side is best, but if your cat is young and likes to jump, consider the top. Cutting a hole about 7-8 inches wide with a utility knife or small saw will make it easy for your cat to get in and out.
Furthermore, since the wicker basket isn’t exactly waterproof and you never know when some pee will get through it, it’s important to put a waterproof liner under it. You know, better safe than sorry!
Decorate a simple litter box cover with a pattern
As I said, DIY projects aren’t exactly for everyone. If you don’t want to go through the trouble of making a cover for your cat’s litter box from scratch, then this tip is for you! After I did a bit of renovation in my living room, the last thing I wanted was to see all the cat’s litter ruining the whole environment. Since I didn’t have the necessary space in my bathroom to place the litter in it, I had to improvise. What did I do?
I purchased some standard acrylic paint and a variety of brushes, both thin and large, and searched Pinterest for color inspiration. My living room’s walls are light orange, so I had to find a color to match them. I went for a full dark blue. I started painting the cover of the litter box first, then the bottom.
Luckily my cat wasn’t scared of the change of the “bathroom”, so everything went smoothly.
Install a cat door in the wardrobe cabinet
A straightforward approach to hiding a litter box is to seek out furniture items you already possess but which aren’t fully used. For example, if you have a wardrobe cabinet with an empty bottom shelf, you can add a cat door on the side and hide the litter box there.
You will have full access to it through the main door to clean it whenever it’s needed, while your cat will have a separate entrance to do its physiological needs.
P.S. Look for a cat door that can be mounted on a thin panel, like this one that comes in different sizes.
Hide it under a storage bench
Do you happen to have a nice bench on the balcony or even in the living room that you use both for storage space and to sit on when you have a party and there are so many people but so few chairs? If you do and are willing to sacrifice storage space to hide your cat’s litter box, do it.
Cut a square or a small part on the side of the bench for the litter box to enter without forcing it. Also, make sure the bench is tall enough for your cat to enter and sit without squeezing in. An uncomfortable “bathroom” will make the cat go pee somewhere else.
You don’t want to cut a useful bench that you’re using for storage purposes? No problem. You can buy a Cat Washroom Bench that comes in different sizes: extra large, large, and small, depending on your space. This one is waterproof, so you don’t need to worry about any further leaks. It may be a bit pricey, but if you’re not interested in DIY projects, I believe it’s a worthwhile investment. There are plenty of benches to choose from available on Amazon but also in physical stores.
Hide the litter box in a cabinet with two doors
A litter box can be much easier to hide if you have a cabinet with two doors and no drawers. You won’t have to take out and change any drawers; all you have to do is add a cat door or take the door off completely, as shown in the picture. This example is better if you want to keep the litter box in the bathroom for your cat.
If you follow the picture above, you can store the essentials on the top shelf or in another area of the cabinet. You can also hang the litter pan on the inside of the cabinet door to use the space wisely.
Reuse old furniture
You can creatively disguise many old pieces of furniture as litter boxes to give them new life. Chalk paint and thoughtful décor arrangement can transform an old-looking cabinet into a more welcoming space that has double usage.
On the top, you can store your belongings (books, photo frames, or any decorations you prefer), and the bottom has a place to put the cat’s litter and a hole on the side big enough for the cat.
Together with all the litter box arrangements, it’s important to also get a high-quality clumping that’s not dusty, and it won’t get stuck into your cat’s paws. For my old cat, I use the one from Dr. Elsey’s, and it never disappoints. I usually go for the Dr. Elsey’s Cat Litter Premium Unscented Cat Litter bag; it’s easy to scoop, it’s low dust, which is a plus, and the price is friendly too, just $20.99 on Amazon.
Do you have a cat? How do you manage to put up with the litter box? Let me know in the comments below.
Related article: Help Your Chubby Cat Slim Down: 6 Easy Tips.
